Issues for the future that face higher education and the development of academic leadership are summarized, based on a December 1984 meeting of the Project on Continuing Higher Education Leadership featuring leaders from academe, business, industry, and government. Major concerns of the meeting were: how higher education can accelerate American economic development and social progress; who most needs education for effective knowledge transfer; and the trend toward increasing numbers of adults attending college and the implications for university organization, curriculum, and resources. Other topics included: population trends, the importance of computer literacy as an employment skill, the need for rapid transfer of new knowledge, and providing lifelong educational opportunities. Five major areas for action were identified: the importance of the continuing education function to other institutional goals; the need to clarify what distinguishes continuing education in a university setting from that offered by government and industry; the task of recognizing emerging societal trends that might affect higher education; the importance of cooperative relationships with business and other groups that offer educational programs, and leadership development to promote educational programs for adults seeking higher education. (SW)